Raza Murad still gets chills thinking about the frenzy surrounding ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ when it hit theaters 65 years ago. He was just 10 years old, but the memories of fans queuing up for tickets are etched in his mind. His dad, Hamid Ali Murad, was part of the iconic movie, playing Raja Man Singh.
People went wild for the film, starring Dilip Kumar, Prithviraj Kapoor, and Madhubala. The queues to buy tickets were over 5 kilometers long and lasted for two days. Raza Murad shares, “I’ve seen it myself – people sleeping on the streets, their families bringing them food as they waited to snag tickets for Monday’s show.” The line started from Bombay Central and stretched all the way to Mahalakshmi.
Unforgettable queues
Raza Murad recalls the dedication of fans in an interview with ANI. They’d queue up on Saturday for advance booking on Monday, showing just how hyped they were for the film. It’s a testament to the magic of ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, which became an instant hit despite being one of the most expensive films of its time.
A timeless classic
Raza Murad believes remaking such a film would be a mistake. “Whoever tries to remake it will fail badly,” he warns. He thinks the original team, including Madhubala, K Asif, and Prithviraj Kapoor, were on a mission from God to create something special. Tragically, they all passed away within 12 years of the film’s release.
Behind the scenes
‘Mughal-e-Azam’ was a grand production, shot mostly in monochrome. However, K Asif decided to film the iconic song ‘Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya’ with Madhubala in color. The song has become an integral part of Indian cinematic history. Interestingly, during the filming, Dilip Kumar and Madhubala’s real-life relationship ended, despite their on-screen romance. They barely spoke to each other, adding a layer of complexity to the film’s already dramatic story.